Fatal Shooting in Washington State Claims Life of Aua Girl
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Local study linking tattoos and a robust immune system 3 21-year-old Faavale Aiga Muipu of Aua, a 2013 graduate of Samoana High School, died while visiting LeLe Washington state. She was allegedly shot by her boyfriend, who is LaliLali from Aoa. [Courtesy photo] ASNOC hoping to establish first local Media Commish B1 ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM THE C M CONVERSATION Y K DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 4 PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA MONDAY, JULY 10, 2017 $1.00 ASPA dedicates Fatal shooting in its new Operations Center building Washington state AWAITING LEED PLATINUM RATING CERTIFICATION by Fili Sagapolutele claims life of Aua girl Samoa News Correspondent The American Samoa Power Authority’s new $4.6 million by Samoa News Staff borview Medical Center with life-threatening Operations Center building at its Tafuna compound is designed Last Tuesday, July 4th, while hundreds of injuries. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it. to be LEED platinum rating certified, using renewable energy, Samoans in the Federal Way area of Washington According to news reports, after investigating, and ASPA executive director, Utu Abe Malae says ASPA hopes state were celebrating the holiday with family detectives “determined that the victim’s boy- to get the certification soon, making it the second LEED plat- and friends, cops were on the move, investigating friend, a 23-year-old Federal Way resident, shot inum building in American Samoa. reports of a shooting at the Club Palisades apart- the victim.” The suspect was then booked into The dedication ceremony last Friday morning was attended ment complex on South Star Lake Road. the King County Jail on assault charges. How- by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, First Lady Cynthia Malala According to news reports, a 23-year-old ever, since the victim later died as a result of the Moliga, Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga T. Asuega, some Samoan man was arrested that same day for shooting, it is expected that additional — more lawmakers, Pulu Ae Ae Jr, who represented Congresswoman allegedly shooting his girlfriend, a Samoan girl, serious — charges may be filed. Aumua Amata, traditional leaders and cabinet members. who was visiting from out of state. While news reports from the Emerald City did ASPA CEO OVERVIEW What exactly transpired moments before the not identify the victim or the suspect by name, The ASPA CEO said local construction company, Paramount shooting is unclear. dozens of posts on social media indicate that the Builders Inc., was the general contractor, while Honolulu-based Federal Way police spokeswoman Cathy victim is 21-year-old Faavale Aiga Muipu of Lively & Associates came up with the architectural and design Schrock said that at about 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, Aua, a 2013 graduate of Samoana High School, work. officers were sent to investigate a report of a and the suspect is her boyfriend, 23-year-old The art work was done by local artist Reggie Meredith. “self-inflicted gunshot incident”. Chris Tavita from Aoa. (In brief remarks during the program, Papali’i Lauli’i Alofa The victim, 21, was rushed to Seattle’s Har- Messages of condolences for Muipu’s family thanked Lolo and Utu for supporting local contractors such as (Continued on page 13) Paramount for these types of projects. He said Utu raised the bar with this work and helped in moving the project forward to a successful completion. Lolo later told the audience that “behind every successful story, there are people who push the wheel- barrow and swing the hammer to bring out that success.”) The new building, for which the US Federal Emergency C M Management Agency provided $3.73 million in funding while Y K ASPA provided $873,000, replaces the one in Satala that was destroyed by the Sept. 29, 2009 tsunami. Utu thanked Lolo for the support in moving this project forward and also credited former Gov. Togiola Tulafono, who spearheaded this project, as well as the new Satala Power Plant commissioned last month. For the general contractor, Utu said Paramount Builders “figuratively, or metaphorically and literally did all the heavy lifting.” “So this is a very interesting project — from the design, con- struction, the art work, the theme, the landscaping, the conserva- tion and recovery of resources such as surface water, the PV roof panels, the computer design roof line — that does not follow conventional reef lines, so it’s a bit difficult at times for the con- tractor to try to make this into a reality.” Utu said. He said the ASPA structure will be the second platinum certified LEED building in the territory (they are hoping to get certification in a couple of months) — with the first being the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency building in Utulei. A certified LEED platinum building “means it meets the American Samoa Power Authority staff pose for a Samoa News photo last Friday morning before highest criteria for an energy efficient building. That means, net- the dedication of the new $4.6 million ASPA Operations Center building in Tafuna. Lolo praised zero energy, all the energy for this building will be produced Utu, the Board, and ASPA employees for their dedicated work in moving the Territory forward in a from the building itself,” he explained and said the building series of steps to success. [photo: FS] (Continued on page 11) Page 2 samoa news, Monday, July 10, 2017 New taxes being pro- posed, repealing others, updating individual income tax table by Fili Sagapolutele AMENDING EXISTING Samoa News Corespondents LAWS The Lolo Administration is The presentation included a proposing to amend existing tax visual show on screen of a total laws, such as updating the cur- of 8 laws the task force pro- rent individual income tax table, poses to amend. The top three which has remained the same deal with the 5% excise tax on since 2000, as well as repealing “non-carbonated sugary drinks, the 2% wage tax, while pro- heavy construction equipment, posing new tax laws such as a and used vehicles, secondhand 7% sales tax that will apply to equipment”. “goods” but not “services”. These excise taxes are col- The administration’s pro- lected by Customs at port. posed legislative agenda to Talauega said the task force be sent to the Fono when believes in enforcing laws when lawmakers convene today to it comes to what they call “sin start the Second Regular Ses- items” — such as beer and ciga- sion of the 35th Legislature, rettes, and the task force believes was revealed during a briefing there is a big problem with high of lawmakers last Thursday blood pressure and other types morning at the Fono Guest Fale. of diseases in the territory and The briefing was attended something needs to be done by Fono leaders and several about imported goods such lawmakers, Gov. Lolo Matalasi as sodas and “sugary drinks”, Moliga, cabinet directors, and which are being widely sold, members of the ASG Revenue with some arguing that this is Task Force, chaired by Attorney not soda, so it’s good to drink General Talauega Eleasalo Ale them, it’s juice — but most of who explained that the pro- these items, the task force says, posed amendments to current are sugary drinks. tax law, includes tax reliefs — The task force is proposing returning money to the hands to amend the 5% excise tax on of the consumer — while the “non-carbonated sugary drinks” new proposed law will pro- to a 15-cent tax per 12-ounces. vide additional revenues for the They estimate that the current government. 5% excise tax collects about Lolo told the gathering that $93,244 annually but under American Samoa needs to the proposed 15-cents, the esti- expand its revenue base in order mated collection is $1.9 mil- to depend on itself and not the lion, according to data shown at federal government, which is the meeting. facing its own financial woes. For heavy construction (See Samoa News online Friday equipment, (which currently for details), provides about $55,494 in rev- In the task force presenta- enue on the 5% excise tax), the tion, Talauega explained that proposed tax is 25% — with an the team was tasked by the gov- estimated annual collection of ernor to look at existing laws $774,889 and ways to change collecting The task force is also pro- revenues, so that there is less posing a 25% tax for used vehi- dependence on federal money, cles and secondhand equipment which over the years appears to imported to the territory. The be decreasing annually. current 5% tax collects about He said the task force looked $297,318 annually but under at a multi-year plan to improve the proposed 25% tax, the local revenue generation and annual collection is estimated at this was also the governor’s $516,957 wishes, not to find a quick fix Talauega said the task force, solution for just one year but which includes Port Adminis- a long term plan. “So the task tration director Taimalelagi Dr. force looked at 5 to 10 years Claire Poumele, looked at port ahead for planning,” Talauega fees, to be amended, and many said, adding that the task force can be done through the regula- identified existing laws to be tion process, while others have amended. to be submitted to the Fono for He said the task force looked approval. at repealing current tax laws According to the task force that are a burden on the com- chart, port fees currently collect munity, such as the 2% wage $4.55 million, but the proposed tax, 5% miscellaneous excise amendments would increase tax, and updating the current revenue by $2.55 million to tax table for individuals that has $7.11 total annually.